Category: This one’s a Keeper

Review: A Touch of Passion by Bronwen Evans

Posted March 18, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 2 Comments

A Touch of Passion lgTitle:  A Touch of Passion
Series:  Disgraced Lords
Author:  Bronwen Evans
Genre:  Historical Romance
Published:  March 24, 2015
Publisher:  Random House – Loveswept
My Rating:  4 stars
Source:  NetGalley

Cover blurb:

In the latest Disgraced Lords novel from USA Today bestselling author Bronwen Evans, a vivacious thrill seeker clashes with her dutiful defender—causing irresistible sparks to fly.

Independent and high-spirited, Lady Portia Flagstaff has never been afraid to take a risk, especially if it involves excitement and danger. But this time, being kidnapped and sold into an Arab harem is the outcome of one risk too many. Now, in order to regain her freedom, she has to rely on the deliciously packaged Grayson Devlin, Viscount Blackwood, a man who despises her reckless ways—and stirs in her a thirst for passion.

After losing his mother and two siblings in a carriage accident years ago, Grayson Devlin promised Portia’s dying brother that he’d always watch over his wayward sister. But having to travel to Egypt to rescue the foolhardy girl has made his blood boil. Grayson already has his hands full trying to clear his best friend and fellow Libertine Scholar of a crime he didn’t commit. Worse still, his dashing rescue has unleashed an unforeseen and undesired consequence: marriage. Now it’s more than Portia he has to protect . . . it’s his battered heart.

Read on for my thoughts on A Touch of Passion.  No true spoilers, promise.

Read More

Divider

Teaser Tuesday #8

Posted March 17, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 34 Comments

teaser tuesdayOne of the fun parts of taking part in blog hops (aside from getting to visit new to me blogs) is finding great ways to interact with other book lovers.  This is one:

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of A Daily Rhythm.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

He wanted to call out–to stop them–but he could not.

Somewhere in the deep recesses of his mind he knew how to speak.  He even had a vague recollection of the sound of his voice.  He knew what it was to scream, even the joyful release when he did it.  But the word to describe this?  Even though he could sometimes think it, his mouth refused to curve around the word.  For years, his survival had depended on muteness.  Now, he could not seem to make his mouth remember how to form syllables, words, coherent sounds.

The Making of a GentlemanTwelve years in prison has stripped him of his humanity…Saving him is her only chance to escape a terrible fate

Armand, Comte de Valère has lost the ability to interact with polite society, until his family hires him a beautiful tutor, and he starts to come alive again.

Felicity Bennett vows she’ll do whatever it takes to help Armand fight back the demons that have held him captive for so long.

With Felicity’s help, Armand begins to heal, until a buried secret threatens to destroy their growing passion. ~ The Making of a Gentleman by Shana Galen.

What are you reading?

Divider

Getting Updated on All The Challenges

Posted March 16, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

scattered papersMy Goodness – where has the time gone to?

I am so behind on getting the Challenges updated.  How about you?  Are you keeping caught up?  If so I am so jealous.  🙂

Not that I haven’t read the novels that go with them – I just haven’t found the system that will let me keep up-to-date on posting the titles.  Ugh!

So there are two reviews to get up tomorrow, Tuesday Teaser and then I need to spend some time getting caught up on posting the Challenge novels to their various posts and sites.  Yeah, that’s the plan.

Help!  *grin*

Divider

Cover Characteristic #1

Posted March 16, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 10 Comments

This one sounds like a purely fun meme to jump into.  The ladies at  Sugar and Snark  are hosting a Cover Characteristic meme.  Weekly a subject will be chosen and we search for book covers related to that week’s pick.  Why not?  I certainly have tons of book covers in my files (and I know how to find more *wink*) so this will be my first week joining in.

This week’s choice is Gardens.  Show off your favorite book covers with Gardens.  Follow the links above to join in too.

So here goes:

It’s no secret that Nora Roberts is one of my most favorite authors.  I knew what I wanted to use, but wasn’t sure if there were gardens on those covers — sure enough, there were.

Black Rose, Blue Dahlia and Red Lily all from the In The Garden trilogy.

cc Black Rose NRcc Blue Dahlia NRcc Red Kukt NR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

cc Wild Rain CFThen would come Christine Feehan’s Wild Rain – maybe more jungle but it reminds me of a garden gone wild.

 

 

 

 

 

 

cc PrincessCharmingcoverAnd finally the completely gorgeous full cover of Nicole Jordan’s  Princess Charming.

Divider

Free Monday Pick: A Gentleman Never Tells by Jerrica Knight-Catania

Posted March 16, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

A Gentleman Never Tells“Free Monday Pick” is a feature here at Keeper Bookshelf that showcases a novel I picked up for free.  This week’s pick was found at Amazon’s Free Kindle Books offerings.

Look for a “Free” novel to be picked each Monday and the review to appear on the following Monday.   There are some really good “free” novels available (and some not so great too).  Let’s weed them out.  If this sounds like something you’d like to take part in — awesome, just leave a link with your Free Monday Pick in the comment section and let us go check it out.

This week’s pick is:  A Gentleman Never Tells.  Isn’t that cover just gorgeous?  This is a Historical Romance, and is the beginning of a series – so I might have another series to get into after I check out this one.

Cover Blurb:  Benjamin Wetherby, Earl of Glastonbury and heir to the Marquisate of Eastleigh, has just received an urgent letter from home. His father is dying and he must return to England at once. Benjamin is a man bound by honor and duty, to both his country and his family. So, despite his reservations, he leaves his life in New York City behind so he may find a wife and assume his role as the Marquess of Eastleigh.

Miss Phoebe Blake is finally out of mourning for her father, and just in time. She and her mother could be days away from being carted off to debtors prison, so Phoebe returns to society with the intent and determination to secure a rich husband.

Sparks fly when Benjamin and Phoebe meet, and it appears they have both found just what they are looking for. But will a dark secret keep them from finding their happily ever after?

My review will be up next Monday and I’ll let you know how this one turned out.  🙂

Divider

Feature: Swoon-Worthy Quote

Posted March 15, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

swoon-worthy gifSwoon Worthy Quotes.

Those moments in a book where you just go “Awwwww” or think “I wish I could hold onto that thought forever.”

I love holding on to the best parts of favorite novels by jotting down quotes that “spoke” to me.  Maybe you do, too.

This is a new Feature here at Keeper Bookshelf.  I plan to make it a Sunday Feature or – occasionally just when the “quote hits me” kind of thing.  While not an official meme (yet) I would love to hear your Swoon-Worthy Quotes of the week too.  It might just lead to some awesome books I haven’t had the chance to read yet.

If you have some Swoon-Worthy Quotes you’d like to share, please drop a link into the Comments and let us check them out!

My quote this week is:

”Life’s a roller coaster. Best damn ride in the park. You don’t close your eyes, hold on and wait for it to be over, babe. You keep your eyes open, lift your hands straight up in the air and enjoy the ride for as long as it lasts.” ~ “Tack” from Motorcycle Man by Kristen Ashley.

Motorcycle Man

Tyra Masters has had enough drama to last a lifetime. Now, she’s back on track and looking forward to her new, quiet life. Until she meets the man of her dreams. The tattooed, muscled biker plies her with tequila-and the best sex of her life. She knows it isn’t the tequila and hot sex talking. He’s the kind of man she’s always wanted. Unfortunately, he’s also her new boss . . .

Kane “Tack” Allen has a rule. He doesn’t employ someone he’s slept with. So when he learns he spent last night in bed with his new office manager, he quickly fires Tyra. Yet when Tyra stands up to him and fights for her job, Tack is intrigued. He tells her she can keep her job on one condition: no more sex. Ever. But as things heat up between them, Tack finds that he’ll be the one breaking all the rules…

If you have not read this book yet – Oh.  My.  Goodness.  Highly recommend it (even if there is some coarse language in it).

So that’s my start to Swoon-Worthy Quotes — what has stuck in your mind from a recent read?  Comment leave a link, please, let us enjoy it too.  🙂

Divider

Review: Drawn to Life by Elisabeth Wagner

Posted March 14, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Drawn to LifeTitle:  Drawn to Life
Series:
Author:  Elisabeth Wagner
Genre:  Romance, Women’s Fiction
Published:  April 28, 2015
Publisher:  Amazon Publishing
My Rating:  3 outta 5
Source:  NetGalley

Story Blurb:

Mia Lang always thought she could brave any storm, until a frightening turn of fate caused her to lose everything she once held dear—her best friend, her boyfriend, her career, and even her desire to live.

Hoping to heal her scars and find the will to face the world again, Mia embarks on an adventure across Europe by train. But when she meets Samuel Winter—on the run from his own troubled past—her whole world is turned upside down again. Perhaps this time, though, the pieces will fall where they’re meant to. Armed with the sort of courage that only comes from having nothing to lose, Mia is about to find out, in this beautiful story of resilience and discovery.

Read on for my thoughts on Drawn to Life.  No true spoilers, promise.

Read More

Divider

Review: Heart of Ice by Sibelle Stone

Posted March 13, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 0 Comments

Heart of IceTitle:  Heart of Ice
Series:
Author:  Sibelle Stone
Genre:  Historical Romance, Gothic, Steampunk,
Published:  February 9, 2015
Publisher:  Books To Go Now
My Rating:  4 stars
Source:  NetGalley

Story Blurb:

Lucinda Stafford is uniquely unqualified to serve as governess for the children of a handsome inventor. But, she’s determined to prove to her family she’s not a fragile, pampered heiress who can’t take care of herself. She didn’t plan to be attracted to the man who makes her furious one moment and whimper with desire the next. When danger threatens, can she save two innocent children from a terrifying nightmare?

Grayson Thorne has only weeks to prove his geothermal plant can generate electricity, or he’ll lose much needed funding. He’s desperate to hire a new governess, but shocked when his housekeeper returns home with a beautiful, educated female who awakens long dormant desires. She’s the perfect choice, if he can manage to keep his hunger for her kisses and fantasies of taking her to his bed under control.

An ancient Icelandic curse hides in the hills, haunting the residents of Thornehús. Grayson and Lucinda may be swept away by passion, but they must face an unspeakable horror that threatens them all.

Read on for my thoughts on Heart of Ice.  No true spoilers, promise.

Read More

Divider

Review: The Memory Of Your Kiss by Wilma Counts

Posted March 13, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 2 Comments

The Memory of Your KissTitle:  The Memory of Your Kiss
Series:
Author:  Wilma Counts
Genre:  Historical Romance, Regency Romance
Published:  March 17, 2015
Publisher:  Kensington Books
My Rating:  3 stars
Source:  NetGalley

Story Blurb:

When her father falls gravely ill, eighteen-year-old Sydney Isabella Waverly dutifully agrees to marry the earl whose estate borders her family’s modest country home. But on a trip to Bath before she weds, Sydney meets the enigmatic, heroic Captain Zachary Quentin, with whom she feels an unmistakable mutual attraction.

Still, they have no choice but to part ways, regretting what might have been. Sydney cannot know that one day they will meet again under vastly changed circumstances, that Zachary will play an unexpected role in her life—and that the man she never forgot still ignites her heart. All that will remain is to find out if he feels the same way…

Read on for my thoughts on The Memory of Your Kiss.  No true spoilers, promise. Read More

Divider

Feature & Follow #8

Posted March 13, 2015 by Marsha in This one's a Keeper / 14 Comments

FeatureFollowParaAlisonGain new followers and make new friends with the Book Blogger Feature & Follow! If this is your first time here, welcome! You are about to make some new friends and gain new followers — but you have to know — the point of this hop is to follow other bloggers also. I follow you, you follow me.

The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and  Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!

This week’s Feature Blogs are:  Books Over Bros .  Be sure to check out their blogs and give them a Follow (if you aren’t already).  :)

Because this blog does not have the ability to put up GFC I would appreciate a follow through Bloglovin’.  Thanks so much.

FetureFollowbloglovinBloglovin button

This week’s question:  Have you come up with any special memes or features on your blog that you’d like people to visit more?

Not here on Keeper Bookshelf, yet.  But I did start doing a Free Monday Pick on one of my newer blogs Haunted Bookshelf (which is purely Paranormal) and am thinking of doing it here as well as on Romance Is Ageless  (which is another blog devoted to novels with heroines and heroes over the age of 30..and more)

Basically what Free Monday Pick involves is… go to Amazon (or any other site of your choice) and download one free novella on a Monday…the following Monday I review my pick and choose another one and continue the cycle.  Comments and join-in are encouraged and hoped for.  It’s a fun way for me to add good content to a new site, involve readers and find a fun new book.  I plan to start it on all three of my review book blogs in the coming weeks.  Will it take off?   Who knows?  But in the meantime, it’s just fun for me.

Now… let’s get blog hopping people!

 

 

Divider